scientific methods

Question 1

what does objectivity refer to

Answer 1

researchers must not let their personal opinions, judgements or biases interfere with the data

Question 2

what experiment is the most objective and why?

Answer 2

lab experiments, due to the high control of all variables involved

Question 3

which research methods have issues with objectivity and why?

Answer 3

natural experiments as no levels of variables can be controlled

observations, despite some observations being controlled behavioural categories are designed to a persons own discretions and may be biased

Question 4

what are empirical methods

Answer 4

information is gained through direct observation or experiment rather than beliefs or reasoned arguments in a controlled, objective, systematic manner generating quantitative data

Question 5

why are empirical methods important

Answer 5

people can make a claim about anything, you will only know if it is true via direct testing to increase validity

Question 6

what is replication concerned with

Answer 6

conducting research multiple times and achieving consistent results

Question 7

why is replication in psychology important

Answer 7

if results can truly be generalised and therefore valid, findings should be the same when the same study and procedures are used so the same conclusions can be drawn

Question 8

what is falsifiability

Answer 8

truly scientific research needs to have the opportunity to be disproven

Question 9

why do all investigations have a null hypothesis

Answer 9

due to the concept of falsifiability, states that any difference is down to chance

Question 10

which approach in psychology is unfalsifiable

Answer 10

the psychodynamic approach

Question 11

how is the psychodynamic approach unfalsifiable

Answer 11

concepts such as the oedipus complex cannot be disproven, if an individual disagrees the approach would argue this is down to defence mechanisms and it lying in the unconscious mind which cannot be disproven

Question 12

how can the arguments of the psychodynamic approach be described

Answer 12

a circular argument, to prevent the initial claim from being refuted or falsified

Question 13

what is a theory

Answer 13

a set of principles that attempts to explain behaviour and events

Question 14

what needs to happen for a theory to be constructed and valid

Answer 14

evidence needs to be collected and knowledge cannot be based on beliefs

Question 15

what types of theory constructions are used in psychology

Answer 15

inductive and deductive methods

Question 16

when you are designing a hypothesis, what do you have to make sure that it is

Answer 16

objective and measurable with variables fully operationalised so conclusions can be drew at the end about whether the results support or refute the hypothesis

Question 17

if a hypothesis is refuted what does this mean for the theory

Answer 17

it needs alterations

Question 18

how is theory and hypothesis adaptation represented in psychology

Answer 18

via the models of memory, first purposed the multi store model where STM and LTM were separate unitary stores, this wasn’t the case so the WMM is more commonly accepted until questions arose about the central executive where it is then later changed again

Question 19

what is a paradigm

Answer 19

a set of shared assumptions and methods within a certain discipline

Question 20

what is an example of a paradigm

Answer 20

a shared set of beliefs that the earth is round

Question 21

what is a paradigm shift

Answer 21

when a new idea comes around so the existing/old beliefs are challenged

Question 22

what is an example of a paradigm shift

Answer 22

it was commonly thought that the earth was flat until later scientific evidence in which it is now commonly believed the earth is round

Question 23

what did Kuhn suggest about paradigms

Answer 23

shared assumptions set science aside from non sciences

Question 24

why does Kuhn suggest psychology is a pre science as opposed to fully scientific

Answer 24

there is too much disagreements at its core through the approaches, cannot agree on a universal approach

Question 25

how can paradigm shifts be seen in psychology

Answer 25

late 19th century: psychodynamic approach explaining psychology, a pioneering approach

1920s/30:
behaviourism approach, controlled experiments to suggest all behaviour is learnt from the environment

1960s:
cognitive approach, with a cognitive revolution and the development of computers and brain scanning becoming the dominant paradigm

recent:
cognitive neuroscience with MRIs is the dominant paradigm and way of explaining psychology